Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or

The greatest players in the world compete to be in the list of Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or, which is regarded as one of the most important individual honors in football.

Only a select few have won it more than once, but some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Ronaldinho, George Best, and Zinedine Zidane, have lifted the cup.

Only five players have won the award more than thrice, including Messi, Ronaldo, and Platini. Here, Sportsgotec examines the Top 5 Players with the most Ballon d’Or.

Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi

• Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi 
• Date of Birth: 24 June 1987 
• Age: 36 years 
• Playing Career: 2004-Present 
• Ballon dór Awards: 08 

Lionel Messi is the all-time leading Player of the Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or list with the most Ballon d’Or awards in football history. The Argentinian star won the awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

All of his Ballon d’Or wins came in FC Barcelona days. He has yet to win it for Argentina and Paris Saint-German. His most impressive record may never be broken due to Messi’s consistency and longevity at the top level. Therefore, he is in the topper of the list of Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or

Christiano Ronaldo

• Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
• Date of Birth: 5 February 1985   
• Age: 39 years 
• Playing Career: 2001- Present  
• Ballon dór Awards: 05

The world-famous Portuguese star footballer, Christiano Ronaldo, ranks 2 of the Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or. He has won the award five times. Messi and Ronaldo won 12 out of 13 awards between 2008 and 2021.

In this era, the Ballon d’Ord’or was a competition between legendary players. Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or AwardAwardd’or in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. He took the runner-up place seven times. 

Michel Platini

• Full Name: Michel François Platini 
• Date of Birth: 21 June 1955 
• Age:68 years 
• Playing Career: 1975-1988 
• Ballon dór Awards: 03 

French football legend Michel Platini consistently won the Ballon d’Or Award thrice in 1983, 1984, and 1985. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Platini won two Serie A league titles with Juventus, one UCL, and one UEFA Euro with France. Up until 2015, he also served as President of UEFA and also one of the Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or.

Johan Cruyff

• Full Name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
• Date of Birth: 27 April 1974 
• Date of Death: 24 March 2016
• Age: 68 years 
• Playing Career: 1964-1984 
• Ballon d’Or Awards: 03 

Johan Cruyff is a huge name in the world of football. He promoted the “Total Football” philosophy, revolutionizing and impacting football today. The Legendary footballer won the Ballon d’Or Award three times in his playing career: in 1971, 1973, and 1974. While playing for Ajax, the Dutch icon won three times the European Club Trophy. In addition, he won the Spanish La Liga once with FC Barcelona and nine times in the Dutch Eredivisie. He adds one more glory to his excellent football career after becoming one of the Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or.

Marco van Basten

• Full Name: Marcel van Basten 
• Date of Birth: 31 October 1964 
• Age: 59 years
• Playing Career: 1981-1993
• Ballon d’or Awards: 03

Marco van Basten is among the Top 5 Players with most Ballon d’Or awards in the football fraternity. The legendary footballer from the Netherlands won three Ballon d’Ord’or awards in 1988, 1989, and 1992. Despite his short career of only 12 years, Marco van Basten had great stats. He has also won one UEFA trophy with the Dutch National Team and two Champions League titles with AC Milan. 

Which Player has won the most Ballon d’Or Awards?

Lionel Messi owns the record for most Ballon d’Or awards with eight titles. 

Here is the list of players who have won multiple one of the best football awards, Ballon d’Or awards.